Table of Contents

Climate Change

The city’s codified ordinances contain provisions to help it address the impacts of climate change within the jurisdiction.

Its health and safety code mandates an organic waste disposal reduction, which requirements are consistent with the city’s climate action plan goals (§8.25). The streets, sidewalks, and public spaces code includes provisions to help protect and maintain urban forests to help address climate change (§12.12). And the buildings and construction code establishes a building efficiency program to implement the goals of the city’s climate action plan of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, energy, and water consumption (§15.77).

Green Building

The city’s code of ordinances requires Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and GreenPoint certification for several types of developments and major renovations. It requires multi-unit residential and public projects with specific square footage receive LEED Silver certification and single-family and multi-family residential buildings receive GreenPoint certification (§15.80.040). The city’s green building policy also provides a hardship or infeasibility exemption (§15.80.070).